Evaluation the Adaptability of Staylosanthese Hamata, Staylosanthese Guinea and Desmodium Uncinatum Species on Station of Jinka Agricultural Research Center, Jinka , Ethiopia

Abstract

The adaptation and evaluation improved forage varieties was conducted at Jinka Agricultural Research Center in the 2013 main cropping seasons under rain fed conditions using the forage legume species to identify adaptable and high biomass yielding forage legume varieties. The field experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design /RCBD/ with three replications. The tested species used in evaluation trial were Staylosanthese hamata, Staylosanthese guinea and Desmodium uncinatum. Each species was planted in a single plot area of 3 m x 4 m = 12 m². The fresh biomass and dry matter  yield production potential of tested species to area were  39.5 t/ha, 40.8 t/ha,  27 t/ha and 10.4t/ha, 17t/ha and 8t/ha for Stylosanthes hamata, Stylosanthes guninea and Desmodium uncinatum . The result obtained in current study revealed that there is significant difference (P≤ 0.05) recorded between Stylosanthes hamata and Desmodium uncinatum and also Stylosanthes guninea and Desmodium uncinatum. However, there is none significant difference (P ≥ 0.05) fresh biomass yield between Stylosanthes hamata and Stylosanthes guninea. Out of the tested forge species over cropping season, the one which gave consistently the maximum dry matter yield was Stylosanthes guninea which gave (17 tones ha^-1) in the cropping season is advisable for the study areas and their vicinities. Hence, use of the best performing forage species is important in the test community even though further testing is important by including their feeding value under different intervention, chemical composition and their response to the disease and Pest resistance to put the recommendation on strong basis.

Keywords, Desmodium uncinatum, Dry matter yield, Improved Legume,  Staylosanthese hamata, Staylosanthese guinea and